They are fat-forming, heat and force producing; are far more nutritious than flesh and animal fats, are always ready for use and cannot be adulterated. The nut growing industry is destined in the near future to assume immense proportions and will be found exceedingly remunerative, as the demand for nuts increases with the awakened intelligence of a progressive people. Nut trees once in bearing are a sure and constant source of revenue ; they are long-lived and occupy but little space when compared with that necessary for the sustenance of domestic animals. The culture of nuts is more cleanly and delightful than the laborious work connected with the care of stock and the dairy. NUT CULTURE. The culture of nut bearing trees for their fruit in the United States has until recently been confined to narrow 142 THE FAT OF THE LAND. limits. This is due in part to the abundance of wild nuts which in some localities supply the demand. They are grown from seed and also propagated by grafting. The Almond, a very valuable nut, is largely grown in California. In 1892 the yield was 600,000 pounds, and, according to the report of the Commissioner of Patents, we imported in 1892 6,371,015 pounds, valued at $995,764. The production did not exceed one-tenth the quantity consumed. They are usually divided into **hard shell," " soft shell " and " paper shell." They are very nutritious and less oily than some other nuts, containing only 53.02 fat. In December, 1895, the net duty on almond meats per pound was seven and a half cents if imported in the shells, against five cents per pound if imported without the shells. Of Walnuts there are three species having a commercial value in the United States. Of these the black walnut and the butternut are native and one — the Persian — has been introduced from the Old World. The Persian walnut is known here as the English walnut, to distinguish it from the native. It is largely grown in California and the Southwest, and in acreage and value of product it stands next to the almond among American nut crops. It is a native of western, central and probably of eastern Asia, the home of the peach and apricot. For more than a century it has been planted in a small way in the Atlantic states. It can be successfully grown along the Atlantic slope from New York to Georgia, but is not as successful in the Gulf states. It endures the winter in favored locations near the coast as far north as Connec- ticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but has never been planted there except in a few instances. In Penn- NUTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 1 43 sylvania this tree is reported "as hardy as the oaks." On the Pacific slope, in California and Oregon, the con- ditions are more favorable for market walnut growing. In 1 89 1 California shipped by land and sea 1,818,060 pounds of walnuts. The largest cultivated walnut grove in this country, and probably the largest in the world, contains 700 acres. In France the cheap nuts are sold to the oil mills. One hundred pounds of walnuts will produce about eighteen pounds of oil. It is said that half the vegetable oil used in France is walnut oil, or about three times more than is used of olive oil ; a fact worthy of note by those who reject all salad oils except such as are "imported direct from France." There are two varieties of Japanese walnuts that have been grown in California and other states for several years. The trees make rapid growth, fruit early and attain a great age. The nuts are equal to the English walnut in flavor and they possess great value as a table nut. The Pecan, which belongs to the hickory nut family, is found native in some parts of the United States, west and southwest. Mr. Robert Ridgeway of the Smithsonian Institution says:

AI-modernized reading of the original text

They are fat-forming, heat and force producing; are far more nutritious than flesh and animal fats, are always ready for use and cannot be adulterated. The nut growing industry is destined in the near future to assume immense proportions and will be found exceedingly remunerative, as the demand for nuts increases with the awakened intelligence of a progressive people. Nut trees once in bearing are a sure and constant source of revenue ; they are long-lived and occupy but little space when compared with that necessary for the sustenance of domestic animals. The culture of nuts is more cleanly and delightful than the laborious work connected with the care of stock and the dairy. NUT CULTURE. The culture of nut bearing trees for their fruit in the United States has until recently been confined to narrow limits. This is due in part to the abundance of wild nuts which in some localities supply the demand. They are grown from seed and also propagated by grafting. The Almond, a very valuable nut, is largely grown in California. In 1892 the yield was 600,000 pounds, and, according to the report of the Commissioner of Patents, we imported in 1892 6,371,015 pounds, valued at $995,764. The production did not exceed one-tenth the quantity consumed. They are usually divided into "hard shell", " soft shell " and " paper shell." They are very nutritious and less oily than some other nuts, containing only 53.02 fat. In December, 1895, the net duty on almond meats per pound was seven and a half cents if imported in the shells, against five cents per pound if imported without the shells. Of Walnuts there are three species having a commercial value in the United States. Of these the black walnut and the butternut are native and one — the Persian — has been introduced from the Old World. The Persian walnut is known here as the English walnut, to distinguish it from the native. It is largely grown in California and the Southwest, and in acreage and value of product it stands next to the almond among American nut crops. It is a native of western, central and probably of eastern Asia, the home of the peach and apricot. For more than a century it has been planted in a small way in the Atlantic states. It can be successfully grown along the Atlantic slope from New York to Georgia, but is not as successful in the Gulf states. It endures the winter in favored locations near the coast as far north as Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but has never been planted there except in a few instances. In Penn- sylvania this tree is reported "as hardy as the oaks." On the Pacific slope, in California and Oregon, the conditions are more favorable for market walnut growing. In 1 89 1 California shipped by land and sea 1,818,060 pounds of walnuts. The largest cultivated walnut grove in this country, and probably the largest in the world, contains 700 acres. In France the cheap nuts are sold to the oil mills. One hundred pounds of walnuts will produce about eighteen pounds of oil. It is said that half the vegetable oil used in France is walnut oil, or about three times more than is used of olive oil ; a fact worthy of note by those who reject all salad oils except such as are "imported direct from France." There are two varieties of Japanese walnuts that have been grown in California and other states for several years. The trees make rapid growth, fruit early and attain a great age. The nuts are equal to the English walnut in flavor and they possess great value as a table nut. The Pecan, which belongs to the hickory nut family, is found native in some parts of the United States, west and southwest. Mr. Robert Ridgeway of the Smithsonian Institution says:

A practical cook and text book for general use